The matters of high importance, my dear sister, have been already communicated to you in brief, and indeed cannot be detailed by any but the parties. Dr. Beddoes, the object of Anna's vows,[Footnote: Dr. Thomas Beddoes, the celebrated physician and chemist, followed the Edgeworth family to Ireland, where he was married to Anna Edgeworth, Maria's youngest _own_ sister.] is a man of abilities, and of great name in the scientific world as a naturalist and chemist: good-humoured, good-natured, a man of honour and virtue, enthusiastic and sanguine, and very fond of Anna. MARIA _to_ MRS. RUXTON. EDGEWORTHSTOWN, _Nov. 18, 1793._ This evening my father has been reading out Gay's _Trivia_ to our great entertainment. I wished very much, my dear aunt, that you and Sophy had been sitting round the fire with us. If you have _Trivia_, and if you have time, will you humour your niece so far as to look at it? I think there are many things in it which will please you, especially the "Patten and the Shoeblack," and the old woman hovering over her little fire in a hard winter. Pray tell me if you like it. I had much rather make a bargain with any one I loved to read the same book with them at the same hour, than to look at the moon like Rousseau's famous lovers. "Ah! that is because my dear niece has no taste and no eyes." But I assure you I am learning the use of my eyes main fast, and make no doubt, please Heaven I live to be sixty, to see as well as my neighbours. I am scratching away very hard at the Freeman Family.[Footnote: _i.e. Patronage_, which, however, was laid aside, and not published till 1813.] * * * * * In November 1793 the Edgeworth family returned to Ireland, where Mr. Edgeworth's inventive genius became occupied with a system of telegraphy on which he expended much time and money. It was offered to the Government, but declined. Maria Edgeworth was occupied at this time with her _Letters for Literary Ladies_, as well as with "Toys and Tasks" which formed one of her chapters on _Practical Education._ * * * * * _To_ MISS SOPHY RUXTON. EDGEWORTHSTOWN, _Feb 23, 1794._